Grant Overview

The Kitty Fund is accepting applications right now. It’s a $1,000 grant for mom‑owned businesses that actually employ people. Not solopreneurs. Not side hustles. If you’ve got a team even a small one this might be your moment. Run by Founders First CDC, it’s named after Catherine “Kitty” Abrams Tadlock Webster, the CEO’s late mother. And in 2026, every recipient also gets free enrollment in a Founders First business accelerator. Pair that with the cash, and you’re looking at nearly $2,700 in total value for a few hours of application time.

I’ve seen past winners use the money to build a CRM, launch an app, or hire a contractor for email campaigns. Over 4,000 moms applied for 25 spots in 2024. It’s competitive. But the right story wins.

Key Grant Information

Active

331 days left

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Kitty Fund

Funded by Founders First CDC

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Grant Snapshot

Grant Award

$1,000

Application Deadline

March 10, 2027 331 days left

Eligible Region

United States

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Eligibility and Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

• Identify as a mother
• CEO, President, or Owner of a U.S.-based business
• 2-100 employees
• Under $5M annual revenue
• At least 1 year in business

Grant Benefits

• $1000
• Unrestricted use
• Free Founders First business accelerator (2026 cycle)

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Focus Areas

grants for mom entrepreneurs grants for mom‑owned businesses funding for mompreneurs

Not sure if you qualify?

I built a simple tool that walks you through each rule. Answer a few questions and you’ll know in under a minute where you stand. If you’re eligible, you can jump straight into the full application submission process. If you’re unsure about any answer, book a 1‑on‑1 consultation with one of our grant experts—we’ll help you figure it out. And if this grant isn’t the right fit, scroll down to the “More grants” section; we keep a list of alternatives that might work better for you.

What makes this grant different

Most grants for women don’t care how many people you employ. This one does. It’s designed for moms who have moved beyond solopreneurship—who’ve hired staff, built a team, and are carrying the weight of payroll. The employee requirement isn’t a gatekeeping trick; it’s a signal that the fund is for established businesses that can actually put the money to work creating jobs and serving customers.

And then there’s the accelerator. Founders First offers coaching programs, and for 2026 recipients, one of them is free. I don’t know yet which one—that detail hasn’t been announced—but their accelerator page gives you a sense of what’s included: coaching, peer groups, access to capital pathways. Worth far more than $1,000 on its own. Some drafts call it the Passport or Zebra program; whatever it’s called, it’s a performance package—winners get the cash in two installments tied to completing the accelerator. That turns a micro‑grant into real momentum.

The employee rule explained

You need 2 to 100 employees. That’s W-2 employees, including part‑time staff. 1099 contractors usually don’t count, though I’d check with Founders First if that’s your situation. The range is broad—if you run a small marketing agency with three people, you’re in. If you own a chain of daycare centers with 80 employees, you’re also in. What matters is that you’re an employer.

If you’re a solopreneur with no staff, this grant isn’t for you. But don’t bounce yet—there are other grants for women‑owned businesses that might fit better.

What you need to prepare

Before you start, gather these items. Applicants who have them ready save hours of scrambling.

• A clear narrative – what your business does, who it serves, and how the grant will help you grow.
• A 90‑second video – MP4 or YouTube link. Focus on impact, not your life story. (Length varies by cycle; 90 seconds is the recent sweet spot.)
• Financial documentation – tax returns, P&L, or bank statements to verify revenue under $5M.
• An organizational chart – shows your current team structure. It proves you’re an employer.
• The Job Creators Success Assessment – an online questionnaire with about 12 short‑answer questions. Applicants report that answers over 200 words may get truncated in the portal, so draft offline first.

Video pitch: what works (and what doesn’t)

The application requires a short video. If that makes you nervous, you’re not alone. Most small business owners aren’t actors. But you don’t need to be. You need to be clear.

If you’d like feedback on your script or a practice run, book a consultation. We’ve helped dozens of founders prepare pitches that land.

What $1,000 actually did for past winners

I always wonder, when I see a grant amount, “Can that really move the needle?” So I dug into past recipients. Here’s what I found.

Winners came from California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas. It’s truly national.

Timeline & hidden traps

The 2026 cycle opens March 10, 2026. That’s confirmed. What’s not confirmed yet? The exact deadline. Based on past years (April 16 in 2024, April 17 in 2023, April 29 in 2021), it’ll likely be in mid‑April. But I don’t know for sure.

Here’s what I can do for you: if you add this grant to your Grantaura dashboard, we’ll send you an alert the moment the deadline is announced, and another reminder a week before it closes. That way you don’t have to check back obsessively.

Two traps winners miss: First, if you win, you have 30 days to set up a Bill.com account. Miss that window, and you forfeit the entire award. Second, the $1,000 is paid in two installments—one after you start the accelerator, one after you complete it. It’s not a lump sum. Plan accordingly.

Start Full Application Submission

Eligibility at a glance

I’ve pulled the official rules together into simple yes/no questions. Read through them, then hit the eligibility checker above if you want to be sure.

• Do you identify as a mother? Yes / No
• Are you the CEO, President, or Owner of your business? Yes / No
• Is your business based in the United States? Yes / No
• Is your annual revenue under $5 million? Yes / No
• Do you have between 2 and 100 employees? Yes / No (W-2 employees, including part‑time)
• Has your business been operating for at least one year? Yes / No

If you answered yes to all, you’re eligible. If you’re close but not quite (e.g., you have 1 employee and a 1099 contractor), book a consultation and we’ll help you interpret the rules.

Frequently asked questions

Q: My business has 1 full‑time employee and 2 part‑time. Do I qualify?
A: Yes. Employees include part‑time staff as long as they’re on your payroll (W-2). The total just needs to be 2 or more.

Q: What if my revenue is over $5 million?
A: Then you’re not eligible for this round. But Founders First has other programs for larger businesses—check their site or let us research for you.

Q: Is the video pitch really required?
A: Yes. Every cycle since 2023 has required it. It doesn’t have to be Oscar‑worthy. Just clear and from the heart.

Q: What’s the accelerator program they’re including in 2026?
A: Founders First hasn’t specified which of their three accelerators is included. I’ve linked their main accelerator page above so you can see the options. As soon as we know more, we’ll update this page.

Q: How do I know if my video is good enough?
A: That’s exactly what our expert review service is for. We’ll give you honest feedback before you submit.

Q: What’s the Job Creators Success Assessment?
A: It’s an online questionnaire with about 12 short‑answer questions about your hiring plans and business impact. Applicants report that answers over 200 words may get truncated, so draft offline first. We can help you review your responses.

Q: Can solopreneurs apply?
A: No. The employee minimum is 2. If you’re a solopreneur, check out the This Woman Knows microgrant instead—it’s designed for solo founders.

Terms you’ll see

Kitty Fund – The grant program named after Catherine “Kitty” Abrams Tadlock Webster, mother of Founders First CEO Kim Folsom.

Founders First CDC – A nonprofit organization that provides funding and accelerator programs to diverse‑led businesses.

Mompreneur – A mother who runs her own business.

Employer‑based business – A business that has at least two employees. For the Kitty Fund, that means 2+ total employees (W-2).

Micro‑grant – A small grant, typically under $5,000, meant to be catalytic rather than sustaining.

Unrestricted funds – Money you can spend on anything related to your business, with no reporting or restrictions.

Job Creators Success Assessment – An online questionnaire required as part of the application; it measures hiring intent and business readiness.

Bill.com – The payment platform used by Founders First. Winners must set up an account within 30 days or forfeit the grant.

90‑second video – The required pitch video format. Focus on business impact and community benefit.

Organizational chart – A simple diagram showing your current team structure; required to verify employer status.

More grants for mom entrepreneurs

If the Kitty Fund isn’t right for you—maybe you’re a solopreneur, or you missed the window—here are a few other grants that might fit. I keep this list fresh, so check back often.

• Amber Grant – monthly $10,000 award for women entrepreneurs, no employee requirement.
• This Woman Knows microgrant – supports solo founder moms who don’t meet the 2‑employee threshold.
• All grants for women‑owned businesses – browse our curated archive.

How we help you apply

You’ve made it this far, so you’re serious. Let me tell you what Grantaura can actually do for you—not just what the listing says.

Your video pitch. I mentioned the consultation service. We’ll watch your draft, tell you where it drags, what to emphasize, and how to sound confident on camera. That’s the kind of feedback a static page can’t give.

The Job Creators Assessment. We can review your responses for clarity and competitive positioning—especially important when the scoring rubric isn’t public.

The unknown deadline. Add this grant to your dashboard and we’ll track it for you. No calendar reminders to set, no “did I miss it?” anxiety.

Bill.com & the 30‑day trap. If you win, we’ll guide you through the onboarding steps so you don’t forfeit the award.

Full application submission. When you’re ready, we can prepare and submit the entire application on your behalf (Founders First allows third‑party submissions). You focus on running your business; we’ll handle the paperwork.

If any of that sounds useful, click the button below. It opens a quick form—tell us a bit about your business, and we’ll get back to you within one business day.

Start Full Application Submission

Prefer to talk first? Book a 1‑on‑1 consultation.

About me, the author

I run Grantaura, and I research every grant on this site personally. My goal is to give you the same depth of information I’d want if I were applying—no fluff, no hype, just the facts and what they mean for someone trying to grow a business. If you spot something I missed or have a question, book time with me or find me on LinkedIn. I read every message.

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